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Papamochani Ekadasi
Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Supreme Lord, I have heard from
You the explanation of Amalaki Ekadasi which occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March),
and now I wish to hear about the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April). What
is its name, Oh Lord, and what results can one attain by observing it?" The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna,
replied, "O best of kings, for the benefit of everyone I shall gladly describe to you the glories of this Ekadasi, which is
known as Papamochani.
The history of this Ekadasi was once narrated to the Emperor Mandhata
by Lomasa Rishi. King Mandhata addressed the Rishi, 'Oh great sage, for the benefit of all people, please tell me the name
of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra, and please explain the process for observing
it. Also, please describe the benefits one gains by observing this Ekadasi.'
"Lomasa Rishi replied, "The Ekdasi that occurs during the dark part of the month of Chaitra is named Papamochanii Ekadasi.
For the faithful devotee it removes the influences of ghosts and demons. Oh lion among men, this Ekadasi also awards the eight
perfections of life, fulfils all kinds of desires, purifies one's life of all sinful reactions, and makes a person perfectly
virtuous.
"'Now please listen to a historical account concerning this
Ekadasi and Chitraratha, the chief of the Gandharvas (heavenly musicians). During the spring season, in the company of heavenly
dancing girls, Chitraratha once came upon a beautiful forest bursting forth with a great variety of flowers. There he and
the girls joined the Gandharvas and many Kinnaras, along with Lord Indra himself, the king of heaven, who was enjoying a visit
there. Everyone felt that there was no better garden than this forest. Many sages were also present, performing their austerities
and penances. The demigods particularly enjoyed visiting this celestial garden during the months of Chaitra and Vaisakha (April-May).
"'A great sage named Medhavi resided in that forest, and the very attractive dancing girls would always attempt to seduce
him. One famous girl in particular, Manjughosha, contrived many ways to allure the exalted Muni, but out of great respect
for the sage and feat of his power, which he had attained after years and years of ascetics, she would not come very close
to him. At a spot two miles from the sage, she pitched a tent and began singing very sweetly as she played a tamboura. Cupid
himself became excited when he saw and heard her perform so nicely and smelled the fragrance of her sandal-paste unguent.
He remembered his own unfortunate experience with Lord Shiva and decided to take revenge by seducing Medhavi.
(see footnote 1) "'Using the eyebrows of Manjughosha as a bow, her glances as a bowstring, her eyes
as arrows, and her breasts as a target, Cupid approached Medhavi in order to tempt him to break his trance and his vows. In
other words, Cupid engaged Manjughosha as his assistant, and when she looked at that powerful and attractive young sage, she
also became agitated by lust. Seeing that he was highly intelligent and learned, wearing a clean white brahmana's thread draped
across his shoulder, holding a sannyasi's staff, and sitting handsomely in the asrama of Chyavana Rishi, Manjughosha came
before him. "'She began to sing seductively, and the small bells of her belt and around her ankles, together with the bangles
on her wrists, produced a delightful musical symphony. The sage Medhavi was enchanted. He understood that this beautiful young
woman desired union with him, and at that instant Cupid increased his attraction for Manjughosha by releasing his powerful
weapons of taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound. Slowly Manjughosha approached Medhavi, her bodily movements and sweet glances
attracting him. She gracefully put her tamboura down and embraced the sage with her two arms, just as a creeper winds itself
around a strong tree. Captivated, Medhavi gave up his meditation and decided to sport with her and instantly his purity of
heart and mind abandoned him. Forgetting even the difference between night and day, he went away with her to sport for a long,
long time.
(see footnote 2) "'Seeing that the young yogi's sanctity had
become seriously eroded, Manjughosha decided to abandon him and return home. She said. "O great one, please permit me to return
home." 'Medhavi replied, "But you have only just arrived, O beautiful one. Please stay with me at least until tomorrow." 'Fearful
of the sage's yogic power, Manjughosha stayed with Medhavi for precisely fifty-seven years, nine months, and three days, but
to Medhavi all this time seemed like a moment. Again she asked him, "Please permit me to leave." 'Medhavi replied, "O dear
one, listen to me. Stay with me for one more night, and then you may leave tomorrow morning. Just stay with me until I have
performed my morning duties and chanted the sacred Gayatri mantra. Please wait until then." Manjughosha was still fearful
of the sage's great yogic power, but she forced a smile and said, "How long will it take you to finish your morning hymns
and rituals? Please be merciful and think of all the time you have already spent with me. The sage reflected on the years
he had been with Manjughosha and then said with great astonishment.
Why,
I have spent more than fifty-seven years with you! His eyes turned red and began to emanate sparks. He now regarded Manjughosha
as death personified and the destroyer of his spiritual life. You rascal woman! You have turned all the hard-earned results
of my austerities to ashes! Trembling with anger, he cursed Manjughosha, "Oh sinful one, Oh hard-hearted, degraded one! You
know only sin! May all terrible fortune by yours! Oh rascal woman, I curse you to become an evil hobgoblin - pishacha!" 'Cursed
by the sage Medhavi, the beautiful Manjughosha humbly beseeched him, "Oh best of the brahmanas, please be merciful to me and
revoke your curse! Oh great one, it is said that association with pure devotees gives immediate results but their curses take
effect only after seven days.
I have been with you for fifty-seven years, Oh master, so
please be kind to me!" "'Medhavi Muni replied, "Oh gentle lady what can I possibly do? You have destroyed all my austerities.
But even though you have done this sinful deed, I shall tell you a way you can be released from my wrath. In the dark fortnight
of the month of Chaitra there is an all-auspicious Ekadasi that removes all one's sins. Its name is Papamochani, Oh beautiful
one, and whoever fasts on this sacred day becomes completely freed from having to take birth in any kind of devilish form."
'With these words, the sage left at once for his father's Ashram. Seeing him enter the hermitage, Chyavana Muni said, "Oh
son, by acting unlawfully you have squandered the wealth of your penances and austerities." Medhavi replied, "Oh Father, kindly
reveal what atonement I must perform to remove the obnoxious sin I have incurred by privately associating with the dancing
girl Manjughosha.
Chyavana Muni answered, "Dear son, you must fast on Papamochani
Ekadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra. It eradicates all sins, no matter how grievous they
may be. Medhavi followed his father's advice and fasted on Papamochani Ekadasi. Thus all his sins were destroyed and he again
became filled with excellent merit. Similarly Manjughosha observed the same fast and became free of the hobgoblin curse. Ascending
once again to the heavenly spheres, she too returned to her former position. Lomasha Rishi continued, 'Thus, Oh king, the
great benefit of fasting on Papamochani Ekadasi is that whoever does so with faith and devotion will have all his sins completely
destroyed. Sri Krishna concluded, "Oh King Yudhishthira, whoever reads or hears about Papamochani Ekadasi obtains the very
same merit he would get if he donated a thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have incurred
by killing a brahmana, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking liquor, or having sex with his guru's wife. Such is the
incalculable benefit of properly observing this holy day of Papamochani Ekadasi, which is so dear to Me and so meritorious.
Thus ends the narration of the glories of Chaitra-Krishna Ekadasi, or Papamochani Ekadasi, from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana.
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Foot notes: 1. After Lord Shiva lost his dear wife Sati at the sacrificial arena of Prajapati Daksha, Shiva destroyed
the entire arena. Then he brought his father-in-law Daksha back to life by giving him the head of a goat, and finally he sat
down to meditate for sixty thousand years. Lord Brahma, however, arranged for Kamadeva (Cupid) to come and break Shiva's meditation.
Using his arrows of sound, taste, touch, sight, and smell Cupid attacked Shiva, who at last awoke from his trance. He was
so angry at being disturbed that he instantly burned Cupid to ashes with a glance from his third eye. Back to the story. 2.
Female association is so powerful that a man forgets his time, energy, possessions, and even his own identity. As it is said
in the Niti-shastra, striya charitram purushasya bhabyam daivo vijanati kuto manushyah: "Even the demigods cannot predict
the behavior of a woman. Nor can they understand the fortune of a man or how it will determine his destiny. According to Yajnavalkya
Muni, "A (celibate) person who desires spiritual life should give up all association with women, including thinking of them,
seeing them, talking with them in a secluded place, taking service from them, or having sexual intercourse with them." Back to the story.
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